Means for cleaning metal preparatory to welding



S. C. CARY.

MEANS FOR CLEANING IVIETAL PREPARATORY TO WELDING.

Y APPLICATION FlLEn MAR. 2. |911.

'1,36,913 Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

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SEEYICER C. CARY, BROGKL'YN, NEW YORK.

MEANS .limit CLEANNG METAL PREPARATORY T0 WELDING.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, SPENCER C. CARY, a citizen ot the United States, residing at the city of New York, borough et Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State ot New York, have invented a certain new and useful lil/leans tor Cleaning Metal'Prepai-atory to lvlelding, of which the following is a specificaton.

This invention is an apparatus whereby the surface scale or oxidation is adapted to be removed from sheet metal in an expeditious and economical manner prior to uniting said sheet metal by a weldi llthe object in view is to thor-eng nate the surface scale or oxidation along a definite marginal portion et' relatively wide metal sheets, whereby said marginal portions ot' a sheet or sheets may be so prepared that they can be welded in a satisfactory manner, more particularly by the electrical welding process, for the reason that the marginal portions cleaned according to this invention are adapted, when brought into lapping Contact, to otter resistance to the flow ot' an electrical welding current uniformly along the line of the resulting seam.

Further objects of the invention are to minimize the escape from the metal treating y chamber of a sand blast against the person oi the attendant operator; to provide for the easy introduction and removal of the metal to becleaned; to enable the sand to be used repeatedly; and to simplify the construction and to render eiiicient the operation of said apparatus.

Although the machine of this invention is intended more particularly for cleaning the marginal portionsk of relatively wide metal sheets in flat form, it is apparent that the principle of the invention may be utilized in cleaning metal sheets other than flat sheets and, in fact, for cleaning other metal objects than sheets. y

lin removing the surface oxidation from metal sheets, Aa serious problem is encountered in so controlling a sand blast as to direct it against both surfacesot the sheet and along a definite marginal portion thereof. After repeated experiments 'have found' that the desired result is attained by the employment of a treating chamber in the form ot' an elongated tube ot lattened cross'section, the same being provided in oneside with a slot into which the marginal portion operation. lily elimispenaeanen of teuer-e raient.

' ber.

'Patented dan. 6, 1920.

i917. ,serial no. 151,951.

of the metal sheet is introduced and :trom which it is withdrawn. With said treating chamber is combined means for eedin a sand blast to the interior of the cham er whereby said blast is caused to flow lengthwise within the chamber, the flattened walls of which operate in a manner to direct the blast into the desired intimate contact with the respective surfaces ot the metal for removing the scale trom a delinite marginal portion thereof.

lt is preferred to associate with the slotted treating chamber, means for precluding the outflow of the sand blast when the slot is unoccupied by the metal sheet, and, further, to associate therewith means tor conducting away from the attendant operator the loose sand whichwith the compressed air, does in a measure escape from the slotted chamber. Accordingly, the slotted chamber is enveloped by an exhaust connection through which air is caused to circulate in order to carry away the escaping air and sand. The slot in the chamber is adapted to be closed to a certain extent by cooperating members extending lengthwise of the chamber, said members being spring actuated so as to close over the slot when the metal is withdrawn, although the members are yieldable to the sheet when the latter is thrust into the cham- Other features and advantagesl of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of a sand-blasting apparatus for cleaning metal embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking toward the right in Fig. l," the blast nozzle being in cross section, and a ortion of the cap being broken away in or er to illustrate the eX- haust chamber.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on an enlarged scale through the apparatus of Fig, 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the tubular treating chamber disconnected from the rest of the apparatus. ,y

The chamber within which the sand-blastingV operation Lis conducted is, in one practical. form of apparatus, 'embodied in the 'form of tube l0, thelength of which greatly exceeds the diameter. This tube is flattened on opposite sides so astoresult 1n a chamber substantially oblong in cross section. In one side of the chamber is provided a longitudinal slot 11 into which is adapted to be inserted a marginal portion of the sheet of material X, as in Fig. 3. rlhe elongated tubular chamber 10 is open at one end,

and near the other open end said chamber is shown as having a collar 12, the end portions of the longitudinal slot 11 terminating short of the open ends of the tubular chamber 10, as shown in Fig. 4. The slot corresponds in length lto the width of the sheet of material to be treated, and said. slot is arranged centrally with respect to the chamber within the flattened tube 10, the cross sectional dimensions of which charnber are sufficient to accommodate a sand blast which flows in the direction of the length of the tubular chamber. '.lt is preferred to employ a chamber of narrow cross sectional dimensions in order that the effect of the sand blast may be concentrated upon the respective surfaces of the material X at the marginal portion thereof, and it is for the performance of this function that the opposite sides of the tubular chamber are flattened as shown in F ig. 3, whereby the sand blast -is caused to flow into intimate contact with the top and bottom surfaces of the sheet material X.

It is preferred to incase the tubular chamber 10 within an exhaust chamber 13, the latter being formed by an incasing member in the form of a tube, the diameter of which is largely in excess of' the cross sectional di mensions of the chamber 10. This exhaust chamber incases the tubular chamber 10 for substantially the entire length thereof, but this is not material so long as ti..- exhaust chamber envelops that part of the tubular chamber 10 which is provided with the slot 11. The exhaust chamber is shown as having one end thereof extended to form an elbow 14 which is positioned within a sand chamber 15. Said sand chamber is provided with an upwardly extending eduction tube 16 within which is. centrally positioned the tubular extension 17 of the elbow 14 forming a part of the, exhaust chamber 13.

The materialtreating chamber 10 extends longitudinally within the exhaust chamber 13, that end portion of the tube provided with the collar 12 being extended through the elbow 14 of the exhaust chamber as shown in Fig. 1, whereby the sand and air flowing through the chamber 10 are free to escape into the sand chamber 15. r1`he air expands within the chamber 15 so vas to fiow upwardly through the eduction pipe 16 and around the elbow 14, the effect of which upwardlyflowing current of airis to induce the circulation of air Within and through the exhaust chamber 13. T'he sand which vis carried outoi' the chamber 10 by the `air separates\frorn the air within the chamber i15` Leaders so that the sand is free to fall by gravity within said chamber 15 and to accumulate therein, thus allowing the sand to bev used repeatedly in the operation of sand-blasting the material under treatment.

rlhe end portion of the exhaust chamber 13 opposite to the elbow 14 is shown as having an inwardly extending flange 18. Over this flanged open end of the chamber 13 is positioned a cap 19 which may be screwed upon the shell of the chamber 13, said cap 19 being provided with air inlets 2O as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, whereby air is free to flow through the slots 20 and to circulatewithin the chamber 13 for the purpose of carrying ofi'I the sand which escapes from the chamber 10 through the slot 11 therein, thus relieving the attendant operator from the effect of the sand blast escaping through the slot 11.

With the material-treating chamber 10 is combined a blast nozzle 21, the same extending through the cap 19 and fitting upon an end portion of the tube forming said chamber 10. Any suitable mea-ns may Abe employed for attaching the nozzle rigidly to the end cap 19,- but, as shown, the nozzle is provided with an exterior flange 22 and bolts 23 are employed for attaching the flanged nozzle 21 to the cap 19. The blast lnozzle is provided with a socket 24 into which is screwed a jet nozzle 25, the latter being in communication with a blast'pipe 26 which leads from a source of supply of compressed air, such as a tank (not shown). yA. pipe 27 is attached to the nozzle 21, said pipe entering the sand chamber 15 at the lower part thereof, whereby the pipe 217 is adapted to feed sand from the chamber 15 to the blast nozzle 21 when air is blown through the jet nozzle 25 into the nozzle 21.

Suitable means are provided for locating the sheet material X in the slot 11 of the treating chamber 10. The exhaust chamber 13 is shown as having an exterior shelf 28, the top surface of which is in the plane of a slot 29 provided in the shell of cha1nber 13, said slot 29 being in register with the slot 11 of the chamber 10, whereby the sheet material X is adapted to rest upon the shelf 28 and to be thrust through the slots 29 and 11 of the chambers 13 and 10, respectively.

`ward each otherby coiled springs 34Twhich loosely encircle the stems 32", y'saidsprings being so related to the members 30, 31 that the springs press, the members toward and into 4contact with eachother when the sheet material X is Withdrawn from the machine. The members 30, 31 lie close to the tubular chamber 10 and are .positioned exteriorly thereto, `but when the sheet material X is withdrawn the springs press the members 30, 3l into Contact and said members close over the slot 11 in the tubular chamber 10, whereby the members 11 close the slot against the free escape ot sand and air from the chamber 10. It is apparent that the members 30, 31 are yieldable to the sheet material X when introducing the latter into the chamber 10, or withdrawing the same trom said chamber.

The operation will be understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with .the drawing, but it may be summarized briefiy as follows The slot 11 is substantially closed by the edge portions ot' the members 30, 31 which are pressed into contact withv each other when no material is present in the apparatus, but to insert the material for treatment it is placed upon the shelf 28, pressure being applied to the sheet material to force it edge-- \.'ise,`whereby the material is pressed through the slot 25), between the members 30, 81, and through the slot 11 into the tubular treating chamber 1().` The members are yieldable t0 the movement ot' the sheet material, and the springs of said members press them into frictional contact with said sheet material, whereby said sheet material is ixedly retained in position and a definite marginal portion of the sheet material is housed or incased within the chamber 10. A blast is now caused to flow through the nozzle 25 so to induce the inflow of air, and the resulting sand blast is conducted by the nozzle 21 into the chamber 10. The sand blast flows in the direction of the length of the chamber, the fiattened walls of which direct or concentrate the blast upon the respective surfaces of the sheet material along the definite margin thereof, whereby the surface oxidation or scale is mechanically removed by the action ot the sand blast' upon the two surfaces of the sheet material. The sand and the air flow out of the tubular chamber 10 into the sand chamber 15, the sand dropping by gravity within the chamber, whereas the air flows upwardly into the l/eduction tube 16, thus creating a flow of air through the exhaust chamber 13. Air is admitted (freely to this chamber through the slots 20, and the flow or circulation oi air within the chamber 13 carries ott the relatively small quantity ot' sand which escapes through the slot 11 from the treating chamber 10. rlhe material can easily be withdrawn from the treating chamber and the exhaust chamber, whereupon the members 30, 31 are pressed into contact so asv to substantially close the exit for the sand blast'aiforded by the slot 11 in-the tubular chamber 10.

It is apparent, furthermore, that the iiow of the blast through pipe 26 may be controlled in. any suitable way so as to regulate the admission of the sand blast into the treating chamber 10. For this purpose, I have shown a valve 36 attached to pipe 26, said valve being provided with an arm 37 to which is connected a link 38 leading to any suitable operating device. Upon the introduction of the marginal portion of the sheet metal into the chamber 10 the cock 36 is opened and the flow of air creates the sand blast by drawing sand through the pipe 27, which blast flows through the chamber, but prior to removing the metal from the chamber the valve 3G is operated to cut oit the air blast to the nozzle.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the class described embodying an exterior casing, a. tubular member positioned therein, said exterior casing and the tubular member being each provided with a slot and relatively arranged for the slot of the tubular memberto lie substantially in the plane of the slot of the exterior casing, and means positioned substantially axially with respect to the tubular member for feeding a sand blast therein.

2. An apparatus. of the class described embodying an exterior chamber, a tubular member positioned within said chamber, said tubular member extending longitudinally with respect to said chamber, said exterior chamber being provided in a Wall thereof with a slot and said tubular member being provided with a slot, the latter slot being in substantially the same plane as the .slot of said exterior chamber, and means for feeding a sand blast in a direction to flow lengthwise of said tubular member.

3.' An apparatus of the class described embodying an exterior casing, a tubular member positioned therein, said tubular member extending lengthwise with respect to the exterior casing, means for the insertion into the tubular member of a marginal portion 0f the material to be treated, and means for :t'eeding a sand blast within the tubular member in a direction to iow longitudinally within said member. i

l. An apparatus ot' the class described embodying an exterior casing, a tubular member f relatively narrow cross sectional dimensions, said tubular member being' positioned within said exterior casing and extending lengthwise. thereof, retaining means in eoperative relation to said casing and the tubular member 'for positioning the material to be treated so that a marginal portion thereof lies substantially centrally-.Within Atill the tubular member, and means for feeding a sand blast into the tubular member so as to flow lengthwise with respect to said member and into contact with the respective surfaces of the material at the exposed marginal portion thereof.

5. An apparatus ot the class described embodying an exterior casing, a tubular member ot flattened cross sectional form and provided With a longitudinal Work receiving slot, said tubular member being positioned within said casing and extending length- Wise therein, and a blast nozzle positioned substantially in the plane of the longitudinal axis of said tubular member for feeding a sand blast into the tubular member to dow lengthwise thereofe 6. ln an apparatus of the class described., a substantially tubular chamber ot attened cross sectional dimensions and the length ot" which chamber exceeds the diameter thereois said chamber being provided in one Wall with a longitudinal slot which is positioned substantially centrallybetween the llattened Walls of said chamber, combined With means to1"";teedin0' a sand blast into the chamber substantially at one end portion thereof and substantially beyond the end of the slot therein, so as to direct the/flow .of said sand blast longitudinally of the chamber` 7. An apparatus of the class described embodying an exterior casing, a, collecting chamber, a tubular member positionedwithin said exterior casing, the outlet of said tubular member discharging into the collecting chamber, and means for the introduction into the tubular member oit a mar-- ginal portion ci the material to be treated, and a nozzle in the outlet ot which is positioned substantially in the plane of the lon-- gitudinal axis of the tubular member for discharging a sand blast the direction of flow of which is lengthwise Within the tubular member.,

8. An apparatus ot the class described embodying an exterior casing, a tubular member positioned Within said casing and extending lengthwise thereof, said casing and the tubular member being provided with alined slots for the introduction into the tubular member of a marginal portion ot the material to be treated, means for retaining said material in fixed relation to the tubular member, said retaining means being yieldable to the insertion and Withdrawal of the material, and means for feeding a sand blast v 'into the tubular membra'o l 9. lin an apparatus of the class described, the combination ot an elongated treating chamber provided in a 'Wall thereol with a longitudinal material-receiving slot, means tor feeding a sand blast Within said chamber so as to flow longitudinally thereof, means for retaining the material. and an exhaust means enveloping said treating chamber for assente carrying oil the sand escaping through the lslot therein.

10. ln an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of an elongated treating haust connection substantially enveloping 4 said slotted part ct the chamber, and means for closing said slot in the chamber upon. the Withdrawal et the material therefrom l2. lln an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongated treating chamber provided in a Wall thereof with. a

llonkegitudinal material-receiving slot, means for feeding a sand blast Within said chamber so as to flow longitudinally thereof, an exgli haust connection substantially enveloping,

said slotted part of the chamber, and material gripping means adjacent to said slot of the chamber and operating to retain the material in fixed relation to said chambern 13. ln an apparatus of the class described, the combination ci an. elongated treating chamber provided in a Wall thereof with a longitudinal material-receivin slot, means for feeding a sand blast Withm said chamber so as to dow longitudinally thereof, an exhaust connection substantially enveloping said slotted part of the chamber, and materia] `gripping means adjacent to said slot of the chamber andpperating to retain the material in fixed 'relation to said chamber, said material gripping means heilig positioned within the exhaust connection.`

lll. ln an apparatus or" the class described, the combination ot. an elongated treating chamber provided in a Wall thereof with a llongitudinal material-receiving slot, means for feeding a sand blast Within said chamber so as to llow longitudinally thereof, an exhaust connection substantially enveloping said slotted part of the chamber, and yieldable material retaining means positioned within the exhaust connection, said material i retaining means being adjacent the slot ot the chamberand operating, upon the Withdrawal of the material, to substantially close the slot of the chamber and preclude the free outllow of the sandblast through said slot.

l5. An Vapparatus of the class described embodying a tubular member provided with a' material receiving slot extending longitudinally thereof, means for feeding a sand Miti rec

blast to the interior of said tubular member and in a direction to How longitudinally Within the same, and material-retaining means exteriorly' of the tubular member, said means being positioned for closing the slot in said tubulail member and operating to frictionally contact with the material for retaining the latter iXedly in position relatively to said tubular member.

16'. An 'apparatus of the class described embodying a tubular member provided with a material receiving slot extending longitudinally thereof, and a plurality of yieldable material-clamping members eXteriorly to the tubular member, said material-clamping members being positioned for closing the slot in said tubular member and operating by friction-al Contact With the material Vfor holding the latter so that a marginal portion of the material is presented substantially centrally with respect to said tubular member, and means for feeding a sand blast to the interior of said tubular member and in a direction to flow longitudinally Within the same and into contact with the respective faces of the marginal portion of said material. y v

' 17. An apparatus of the class described embodying a tubular member provided With a longitudinal slot which communicates With a treating chamber Within said member, said slot opening into said chamber substantially centrally thereof, and means for feeding a sand blast to the interior of said tubular member and in a direction to flow longitudinally Within the treating chamber of said member, whereby the sand blast is free to circulate into contact with the respective surfaces of the material to be treated, the marginal portion of which material is positioned substantially centrally within the treating chamber.

18. ln an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an elongated treating chamber provided With a material-receiving slot in a Wall thereof, means for feeding a sand blast into the chamber in a direction to low'longitudinally thereof, an exhaust chamber substantially incasing the treating chamber, and means for admitting air to said exhaust chamber. p

'19. In an' apparatus of the class described, a sand chamber provided with an exhaust outlet, an exhaust chamber the outlet ofv which is coaxial to the exhaust outlet, a treating chamber positioned Within the exhaust chamber, means for admitting air to the exhaust chamber so as to circulate around the treating chamber, means for feeding a sand blast within the treating chamber, and means whereby the material to be treated may be introduced `into and withdrawn from said treating chamber.

ln testimony whereof, I

signed my name. v

SPENCER C. CARY.

have hereunto 

